Line feed suppression device



July 15, 1958 R. D. SLAYTON LINE FEED SUPPRESSION DEVICE Filed Feb. 28,1955 ATTORNEY 2,843,667 Patented July 15, 1958 LINE FEED SUlPlPREiSliQNDEVTQE Ransom D. Slayton, Lombard, Iii, assignor to TeletypeCorporation, Chicago, 1th., a corporation of Application February 23,1955, Serial No. ifiiylilfi 5 tllaims. (Cl. 173-25) The presentinvention pertains to page printing telegraph apparatus and moreparticularly to improvements in function controlling mechanismstherefor.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a functionsuppression means automatically efiective after the first of asuccession of related function responses.

This invention contemplates the effectuation of limited line feedfunctions pursuant to a condition which would otherwise result in aplurality of line feeds. This requirement is predicated 011 theinclusion of an automatic line feed on receipt of a single carriagereturn code signal combination, which is provided in the first instancein order to prevent printing over existing copy. This function iscommonly called line feed on carriage return. When sequences of carriagereturn and line feed code signals are employed for control purposesother than those normally assigned to them, it is desirable to preventthese signals from mutilating or overlining the printed record or copy.Moreover, the arrangement according to the present invention protectsthe printed record against bursts of static encountered in radiocircuits that would result in spurious carriage returns.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that on receipt ofa carriage return line feed sequence (for example, (ZR-LP or CR--CR-LF)at the end of a line, the copy will be advanced only one line, ratherthan two or three lines, in order to minimize the waste of stationery.

Thus, in order to minimize garbled copy, and also to prevent paper wastethe arrangement according to the present invention accomplishes (1)normal line feed operation on receipt of single or multiple line feedsignals, (2) carriage return and line feed operations on the receipt ofa single carriage return signal and (3) carriage return and single linefeed operation on receipt of a CRLF or CR-CR-LF sequence.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will bemore apparent in the following detailed description of the inventionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a transverse cross sectional view of the selective controlunit taken substantially at the position of the line feed functionlever;

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmental top views of the arrangement shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the line feed mechanism, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic elevational view of a page printer embodying themechanism according to the present invention.

Having reference to Fig. 1, there is shown the basic function mechanismwith which the line feed mechanism according to the present invention isassociated. This basic function mechanism is located in the receivingpage printers at all outlying stations. For a more thorough descriptionof the printer with which the basic function mechanism shown in Fig. 1is designated to be used, reference should be had to the United StatesPatent No.

Ad 2,505,729, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. Reference may also be had to United States Patent No.2,666,095 covering the basic function mechanism.

A set of code bars, indicated generally by the numeral 20, is suitablymounted within the printer, which code bars are comparable to code bars62 or 70 of said Patent No. 2,5ti5f/29. Moreover, code bars 20 arepositioned permutably under the control of a signal responsive means,exemplified by selector magnet 10 (Fig. 3), comparable to magnet 13 ofsaid Patent No. 2,505,729. Certain of said code bars 20 are movablelongitudinally to one of two positions in accordance with the markingand spacing impulses of the Well known Baudot code. Other of said codebars 20 are shifted longitudinally under predetermined operatingconditions as indicated in said Patent No. 2,505,729. A plurality offunction bars 21 are suitably mounted in the apparatus with respect tothe code bars 26, and are urged to the right (as viewed in Fig. 1)towards the code bars 26 by means of springs 22 indi vidual to eachfunction bar. Each function bar 21 has a plurality of code projections23 which cooperate with code notches 24 in each of the code bars 20, inwell known manner.

A power shaft 31 carries thereon an eccentric cam 30 (Fig. l). A collar32 is mounted rotatably on the eccentric 36 and has an arm 33 by whichthe cam 30 is attached pivotally to a lever 34 supported pivotally on ashaft 35. A bail 36 (Fig. 1) has a pair of arms 3'7 which are mountedpivotally on a stationary shaft 38. A pair of toggle links 39 aresecured pivotally at ii to the arm 37, and are secured at the other endsthereof to pivots 42 to which the lever 34 is also secured. As the shaft31 rotates, the lever 36 is oscillated about the shaft 35 to thereby,through the toggle links 39, oscillate the bail 36.

A function pawl or secondary member 436 has an elongated slot 67 bymeans of which said function pawl 46 is mounted for longitudinalmovement on a shaft 48. A spring -59 continuously urges the functionpawl 46 to the right (Pig. 1) and counterclockwise about the shaft 43.which cooperates with a shoulder 51 on the function bar 21. Normally thelatch 56 rides on the top of the shoul der 51 (as illustrated in Pig. 1)thereby permitting the spring %9 to retain the function pawl 46 in itsrightward position. A function operating lever or instrumentaiity 53 ismounted pivotaily on a shaft 54 and cooperates with a laterally directedportion 56 on the function pawl 46. The function operating lever 53 isbiased in a clockwise direction by a spring 57. Associated with thelower end of the function operating lever 53 is an interponent member 59the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. interponents 5% areslidably carried in a guide bracket 55.

Spring 57 is distended between lever 53 and a latch element 61individually associated therewith. Element 61 is pivotally mounted on arod 62 and is normally biased clockwise by spring 57 into cooperativerelation with lever 53. Element 61 is provided with a shouldered portion63 adapted to coact in latching relation with a projection 64 on lever53. Element 61 is also provided with a projection 65 adapted tocooperate with a stripper bail 66.

Assuming that a permutation of positions of the code bars 20 has beenset up which correpsonds to the function bar 21, the bail 36 moves tothe right and all of the projections 23 are opposite notches 24. Thespring 22 is thereby permitted to move the function bar 21 to the right,the projections 23 entering the notches 24, and the shoulder 51underriding the latching shoulder 50 to thereby engage said latchingshoulder 50 due to the action of spring 49 upon function pawl 46. There-The function pawl 46 has a latching shoulder 50 after as the bail 36moves back to the left during its return stroke it moves the functionbar 21 also, the function bar 21 in turn moving the function pawl 4-6 tothe left. As the function pawl 46 moves to the left in this manner, thelateral projection 56 thereon engages and pivots the function operatinglever 53 counterclockwise against the action of spring 57 to cause theinterponent 59 to be thrust rightwardly (as viewed in Fig. 1). At thesame time, the lever 53 becomes latched in its counterclockwiseposition, through the interaction of its projection 64 and the shoulder63 of the latch element 61.

During the above-mentioned selective operation of function bar 21, thefunction pawl 46 was shifted from its solid line position to the dottedline position 67 over a vertically reciprocating stripper bail member66. Thereafter, as a new selection is being made in the code bars 20,the stripper bail 66 in its upward and downward movement acts in propertimed relation to strip or disengage the function pawl 46 from latchingengagement with its corresponding function bar 21, and also the latchelement 61 from its associated lever 53. Stripper bail 66 isreciprocated vertically by suitable camming instrumentalities associatedwith the shaft 31.

Having reference to Fig. 4, the line feed mechanism contemplated hereinis of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,667,256, issuedJanuary 26, 1954, to B. F. Madsen, and comprises a gear 71 fixedlyrelated to the platen 72 of the printer, and a pair of drive or rackmembers 72 and 7d. The gear 71 rotates with the platen 72 and the rackmembers 73 and 74 are adapted to be alternately engageable with theteeth on the gear 71 with a slight overlap of engageability beingprovided, so as to impart rotative motion to the gear 71 and platen 72.The rack members '73 and 74- are connected to eccentrics 75 and 76,respectively, which are operatively.

related to the line feed clutch 77 (Fig. l) hereinafter described. Powerfor operating said racks 73 and 74 is derived from the main shaft 31through said clutch 77. The eccentrics thus control the reciprocatorymotion of the rack members 73 and 74. As shown in Fig. 4, the rackmembers 73 and 74 are adapted to be rotated on a movable pivot 78comprising a roller 79 cooperable with slots 81 and 82 in said rackmembers 73 and 74. The pivot roller 79 is carried on the vertical arm ofa bell crank 83 pivotally mounted on a pivot stud 84 fixed to the sideframe of the apparatus. The bell crank 83 is normally biased clockwiseabout pivot 84 by a spring 85 against an adjustable stop 86.

Upon rotation of the eccentrics 75 and 76, a combination of rockingmotion about pivot 78 and vertically reciprocating motion is imparted tothe rack members 73 and 74. When the rack members 73 and 74 are rotatedclockwise alternately about the pivot roller 79 by their respectiveeccentrics 75 and 76, the teeth on the rack members 73 and 74 willengage the teeth of gear 71. To permit the rack teeth to mesh with thegear teeth under pressure during a line feed cycle, the fulcrum or pivotroller 79 is made movable so that slight counterclockwise movement isimparted to bell crank 83, thus increasing the tension of spring 85.

As viewed in Fig. 4, the eccentrics 75 and 76 are rotated in acounterclockwise direction. When the long radius of eccentric 76 isoperative to the left of the vertical center line of the shaft 87, therack member 73 is actuated clockwise about pivot 78 to bring the rackteeth into engagement with the gear 7 ll. The rack member 73 is alsoactuated downwardly to impart counterclockwise rotation of the gear 71,and hence to platen 72. Then, when the long radius of eccentric 76 isoperative to the right of said vertical center line, the rack member 73is actuated counterclockwise about pivot 78 to disengage the rack teethfrom the gear 71. The rack member 73 is further actuated upwardly withthe teeth thereon free of the gear 71. The same actions are imparted tothe rack member 74 by the eccentric 75 except that they occuralternatively, thereby imparting smoothly accelerated and deceleratedmovement to the gear 71.

In the performance of the line feed operation, the line feed code signalis received by the selector mechanism, such as described in said PatentNo. 2,505,729, to effect a setting of the code bars 20 to select theline feed function bar 121, Figs. 2 and 3 (similar to bar 39 shown in 29of said patent). Pursuant to the receipt of the line feed code signal,the bail 36 will be oscillated, whereupon the function bar 121 will bereciprocated to permit shoulder 51 to engage the step 50 of the pawl 46.Then, upon leftward movement of the function bar 21, the lever 53 willbe rotated counterclockwise to force the interponent 59 rightwardly.

Cooperating with the interponent 59 is an arm 91 of a clutch trip lever92, the other arm of which is provided with a stop portion 93 adapted tocoact with a laterally directed stop projection 94 on the stop disc 95of the three-stop line feed clutch 77, which is operatively related(frictionally or otherwise) in well known manner to the power shaft 31.The clutch trip lever 92 is normally biased counterclockwise by a spring96 and is held against a stop 97. The line feed gearing is such thateach one-third revolution of the clutch will advance the platen by oneline. That is, each one-third revolution of the line feed clutch 77causes its attached spur gear 90 (Fig. 4) to rotate the line feedeccentric spur gear 99 and its attached eccentrics 75 and 76 one-halfrevolution.

The carriage return mechanism is exemplified in Fig. 3 by the carriagereturn function bar 100 which is coded to respond to the carriage returnsignal. In Fig. 5, the carriage return mechanism is illustratedschematically as embodied in a printer of the type disclosed in saidPatent No. 2,505,729. The strap is adapted to be wound around a carriagereturn drum 116, and extends around the idler pulleys 117 and 118 to thespacing drum 113. The character spacing means is herein exemplified byspacing pawl 11 and spacing ratchet 12 (Fig. 5), Which are comparable tospacing pawl 517 and spacing ratchet 519, shown in Fig. 25 of Patent No.2,505,729. Fixed to the strap 115 is the movable type carriage 114adapted to cooperate with the fixed platen 72. With the arrangementaccording to the invention, forward spacing is accomplished in astep-by-step manner, and normal carriage return is, also accomplished asdisclosed in said Patent No. 2,505,729 or as described in copendingapplication Serial No. 260,151, filed December 6, 1951, by B. F. Madsen.The carriage re turn function bar 100 (Fig. 3) is selectively operatedin the manner herein described to actuate an operating lever similar tolever 53 to, in turn, actuate an interponent similar to interponent 59to effect the carriage return operation as set forth in said copendingapplication. In Fig. 1, a carriage return auxiliary bar 101 is shown,which is coded in the same manner as said carriage return function bar100 located on the opposite side of I, the apparatus. It has been shownhow a line feed operation is performed in response to a line feedsignal. As previously mentioned, a line feed operation may also beperformed simultaneously with a carriage return operation in response toa carriage return signal. T o achieve this result, a second functionbar, identified as the line feed on carriage return" function bar 102 isprovided adjacent to the line feed function bar 121. Function bar 102 iscoded on its forward or leading edge in the same manner as the carriagereturn function bar 100 and also the carriage return auxiliary bar 101,so that upon the setting of the code bars 20 in response to the carriagereturn code signal both of the bars 101 and 102 will be selectivelyoperated; the bar 101 acting in the manner to be described, and the bar102 acting simultaneously therewith to control the line feed clutch 77to effect a line feed operation.

The operating lever (similar to lever 53) individual to the carriagereturn auxiliary bar 101 is articulated pivotally to a slidable bar 183operable in a guide 104. Bar 103 is provided at its forward end (rightend, as viewed in Fig. 1) with a depending portion 105 which is adaptedat its lower end to cooperate with shoulders 106 and 107 of functionbars 121 and 102, respectively.

Thus, when the carriage return auxiliary bar 101 is operated rightwardlyin response to the carriage return signal, it will engage shoulder 50 ofits function pawl (similar to pawl 46), so that when it is thereafteractuated toward the left by bail 36, its function operating lever(similar to lever 53) will be rotated countercloclc wise to becomelatched by its associated lever 61. As said operating lever 53 wasrotated counterclockwise, the bar 103 was actuated toward the left topresent its de pending portion 105 immediately in front of the shoulders106 and 107 when the bars 121, 101 and 102 are in their normal positionShown in Fig. 1. It should be recalled that the line feed on carriagereturn bar 102 was actuated simultaneously with the bar 1011, therebyeffecting a line feed operation.

Assuming, now, that the lever 53 (associated with the carriage returnfunction bar) is latched by its latch lever 61, and the associated pawl46 is in its dotted line position 67, and the bar 103 is held in itsleftward position by said lever 53, the timing of operation of thestripper bail 65 is such that it is actuated from its normal posi tion(shown in Fig. l), first, downwardly to impinge against projection 65 oflatch 61 to permit lever 53 to become unlatched. However, lever 53 willnot at this time become unlatched because it will still be held in itscounterclockwise position since pawl 46 still remains in its dottedposition 67. Then, when the bail 66 is raised to its uppermostreciprocating position, the latch 61 will re-engage the lever 53 beforethe pawl 46 is released from function bar 101. Therefore, bar 103 willbe retained in its leftward position during the next successiveselective autuation of bar 101, thus preventing the rightward orselective movement of bars 121 and 1102, thereby suppressing a line feedoperation, It is thus noted that, in this manner, in response to aCRCR--LF sequence, a line feed operation is permitted during the firstcarriage return operation, but is suppressed during succeeding carriagereturn and/or line feed selections in the same sequence.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention the selective operationsof both the line feed and the line feed on carriage return function barsare suppressed after the first carriage return signal of a predeterminedsequence has been received. Moreover, the present invention provides afunction suppression means automatically effective after the first of asuccession of related function responses. Of course, it is understoodthat other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art whichwill embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spiritand scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a page printer including a type carriage and a platen carriage,carriage return means, line feed means, character spacing means formoving one carriage with respect to the other, selector mechanismcomprising a plurality of code bars arranged in superposed parallelplanes, signal responsive means for controlling the permutativepositionment of said code bars, a plurality of function bars slidablymounted for movement toward and away from said code bars, said pluralityof function bars including normally selective carriage return and linefeed function bars, a special function bar invariably operatedsimultaneously with said carriage return bar, a carriage returnauxiliary bar, and means controlled by said carriage return auxiliarybar upon its initial operation for pre venting the selective operationof said normally selective line feed function bar and said specialfunction bar.

2. In a telegraph printer, selector mechanism comprising a plurality ofpermutation bars arranged in superposed parallel planes, a plurality offunction bars slidably mounted for movement toward and away from saidpermutation bars, the leading edge of each function bar adapted tocooperate selectively with said permutation bars, a bail memberconstantly contacting said leading edges to hold said function bars awayfrom said permutation bars against the action of individual springswhich normally tend to urge respective function bars toward saidpermutation bars, a secondary member associated with each function barand disposed thereabove, spring means individually associated with saidsecondary members to urge said secondary members in a direction towardsaid permutation bars, each secondary member provided with an engagingportion adapted to be interengageable with an engaging portion on itsassociated function bar, means for operating said bail memberperiodically to enable movement of said function bars toward saidpermutation bars by said individual springs, whereby one of saidfunction bars is selected according to a permuted setting of saidpermutation bars to effect cooperative interengagemen-t between theengaging portions of said selected function bar and its respectivesecondary member, whence, upon the return movement of the selectivefunction bar by said bail, said secondary member is actuated positively,a lateral projection on said secondary member, operating meanscontrolled by said lateral projection to control the initiation of afunction, latching means for said operating means, means articulated tocertain of said operating means effective to restrain the operation ofpredetermined others of said function bars, and periodically operatedstripper means effective to successively render said latch= ing meansineffective and to disengage said secondary member from said selectedfunction bar, whereby pursu'ant to the sequential operation ofpredetermined func tion bars, the performance of one of a predeterminedfunction is limited to a single operation.

3. in a page printer including a type carriage and a platen carriage, acarriage return means, line feed means, character spacing means formoving one carriage with respect to the other, selector mechanismcomprising a plurality of code bars arranged in superposed p arallelplanes, signal responsive means for controlling the permutativepositionment of said code bars, a plurality of function bars slidablymounted for movement toward and away from said code bars, said pluralityof function bars including normally selective carriage return. and linefeed function bars, a special function bar invariably operatedsimultaneously with said carriage return bar, a secondary memberassociated with said carriage return function bar and disposedthereabove, said secondary member provided with an engaging portionadapted to be interengageable with an engaging portion on its associatedcarriage return function bar, means to effect cooperativeinterengagement between said engaging portions, an operatinginstrumentality associated with said carriage return function bar, meanson said secondary member for actuating said instrument-ality, and meansarticulated to said instrumentality effective to prevent the selectiveoperation of said line feed function bar and said special function bar.

4. In a telegraph printer, selector mechanism comprising a plurality ofpermutation bars arranged in superposed parallel planes, signalresponsive means for controlling the permutative positionment of saidpermutation bars, a plurality of function bars slidably mounted formovement toward and away from said permutation bars, said plurality offunction bars including normally selective carriage return and line feedfunction bars, a special function bar invariably operated simultaneouslywith said carriage return bar, a secondary member associated with eachfunction bar and disposed thereabove, each secondary member providedwith an engaging portion adapted to be interengageable with an engagingportion on its associated function bar, means to effect cooperativeinterengagernent between said engaging portions, whereby said secondarymember is actuated positively, an operating instrumentality associatedwith said carriage return bar, means on said secondary member foractuating said instrumentality, and blocking means articulated to saidinstrumentality and controlled by said carriage return bar, saidblocking means effective upon the initial operation of said carriagereturn bar to prevent the selective operation of said normally selectiveline feed function bar and said special function bar.

5. In a page printer including a type carriage and a platen carriage, acarriage return means, line feed means, character spacing means formoving one carriage With respect to the other, selector mechanismcomprising a pinrality of code bars arranged in superposed parallelplanes, signal responsive means for controlling the permutativepositionrnent of said code bars, a plurality of function bars slidablymounted for movement toward and away from said code bars, said pluralityof function bars in cluding normally selective carriage return and linefeed function bars, a special function bar invariably operatedsimultaneously With said carriage return bar, a secondary memberassociated with said carriage return function bar and disposedthereabove, each secondary member provided With an engaging portion onits associated function bar, means to effect cooperative interengagementbetween said engaging portions, an operating instrumentality associatedwith said carriage return function bar, means on said secondary memberfor actuating said instrumentality, latching means for said operatinginstrumentality, means articulated to said instrumentality to preventthe selective operation of said line feed function bar and said specialfunction bar, and periodically operated stripper means effective tosuccessively render said latching means ineffective and to disengagesaid secondary member from said selected carriage return function bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,701,823 Madsen a Feb. 8, 1955

